NHL cancels Jan. 1 Winter Classic outdoor game

In this Feb. 9, 2012 file photo, National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces the NHL Winter Classic hockey game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. The NHL has canceled the 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The signature event between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, is the latest casualty from the labor dispute that has put the season on hold, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.

The NHL lockout has claimed one of the league’s marquee events.

The Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium was called off by the league on Friday.

It follows the cancellation of all regular-season games through Nov. 30.

The NHL says the teams will instead play outdoors in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 1, 2014.

The Winter Classic has grown into a popular event since first being held in 2008 and the Maple Leafs-Red Wings matchup had been billed as the biggest yet.

By cancelling the game, the NHL forfeited a US$100,000 deposit already paid to the University of Michigan. It would have been on the hook for other expenses to the school if it was called off later on.

In this Feb. 9, 2012 file photo, National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces the NHL Winter Classic hockey game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. The NHL has canceled the 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The signature event between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, is the latest casualty from the labor dispute that has put the season on hold, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.

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Hockey Fan PEI

November 02, 2012 - 17:44

Cancellation of the hockey series this season is truely unfortunate, but its time to stop the media frency, people are finding others things to do and quite frankly are sick and tired of this foolish debate and excess cost associated to the players/owners bickering. Hockey players are getting well paid and the hockey fans derserve better, I have very little sympathy for Bettmand and his gang, all making to much money for what they do. If this continues much longer hockey will be ruined in Canada, enough is enough.